Is it just me, or does everyone find this a bit strange?

When Nintendo announced Battalion Wars 2 last summer, they confirmed online multiplayer immediately.

When Nintendo announced Mario Kart Wii Wednesday, they confirmed online multiplayer immediately.

Smash Bros. Brawl was announced over a year ago, and even today — approximately 4 months from its release date — and we still get no confirmation of any online multiplayer.

Is anyone else a little unsettled by that? The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that they’re dropping online multiplayer from Brawl. And of all the things that people love to hate on Nintendo for, that’s the worst possible thing they could ever do.

Don’t screw this up, Nintendo.